Card-index tray.



F. W. GERHARD. CARD INDEX TRAY.

APPLICATION rum) mm: 15, 1908.

Patented Nov. 37, 1909,

gvmcufoz and. useful Card-Index Tray, of which the tive, partly in section, of a card index tray lowers.

tray or drawer of the character described and whereby, further, owing to the peculiar: I construction of the follower any binding or 'detail viewof the follower or locking memlar in shape and its interior, that is to say,i

FBEDERIOKW. seamen, or aEnFI nsoUrH DAKOTA;

oann nvn Specifitation of Letters Patent. I

Ex TRAY.

Patented Nov. 17, 19013;.

Application and June 16, 908. Serial No. tease-a To all whom 'it'ma'y concern:

'Be it known'that I, FREDERICK W. GER HARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Redfield,-in the county of Spink and State of South Dakota, have invented a new 'followingis a specification.

This invention relates to card index trays or drawers, and while primarily designed for containing index cards such as usually employed in card systems; yet it is to be understood that the article is equally well adapted for containing various kinds of papers, checks and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide :1

including a novel form of follower or locking device, the same being wholly disconnected from the bottom of the tray or drawer and capable of being readily moved throughout the length thereof, and removed if desired, whereby access to the contents of the drawer may at all times readily be effected locking of the same within the-tray, will positively be obviated.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of arts of a card index tray or drawer as will lie hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming-a part of this specificationand in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,Figure 1' is a View in perspecor drawer embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective ber. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are views in front elevation of four modified forms of fol- The tray or drawer 1 may be made of any suitable material, preferably of wood, and of anysize Tech ired., While it will generally be designe' to employ the tray for containing index cards such as are commonly used in card index systems, and'as shown in Fig. 1, yet it is to be understood that it may be utilized for .holdin various kinds of paers, and as this will e readily understood, etailed illustration thereof is omitted,

As shown, the tray or drawer is rectanguits bottom, sides and ends are devoid of any as are enerallyemployed in connection with art cles of this character. Secured to the upper edges of thesides' are two keepers 3 that extend inward toward each other'any desired distance and are designed to hold in position a follower designated, generally, 4. This follower, which may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably wood, on account of its lightness and cheapness, comprises a head plate 5and a clamping member 6, the two being commensurate in length and thickness. The member 6 is held assembled with the head plate or member 5 by a pair 'of upstanding guide rods 7 that are preferably rigid with the member 5 and engage transverse orifices 8 in the member 6. In order to cause the member 6 to be forced away from the member 5, coiled springs 9 are mounted upon the guide rods and hear at their opposite ends upon the upper edge of the member 5 and on the under edge of the member 6.

Instead of employing the coiled s rings shown in Fig. 2, a flat bow-shaped spring 10 may be adopted, as shown in Fig. 3, and

this may be secured either to the under edge of the member 6 or the upper edge of the member .5, as may be preferred.

In the useof the device the index cards or other papers are disposed against one end, and the follower is then moved toward this end, the member 6 being depressed in order to permit it to pass under the keepers 3, and as soon as the head plate is properly positioned relatively to the cards or the like, pressure is removed from the member 6, whereupon the coiled springs showifin Fig. 2 or the bowed spring shown in Fig. 3 will der faces of the keepers 3, and thereby lock desired to inspect the papers held between member 6 is depressed and the follower is loosen the apers to permit easy examination'thereof straight ends, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the ends of the clamping member 11 may 'be provided with rabbets' 12, as shown in Fig. 4, to straddle the keepers 3; or the two memprojecting parts, such as guides or the like,

cause the member 6 to engage with the un the follower firmly in' position. When itis the follower and one end of the box, the

drawn backwards the required distance to a v .105. Instead of constructing the follower with here 18 and 14: of the follower may eaclibe lprovided .with terminal extensions 15 and simple 'in' Character, will be found thoroughly eflioient for the purposes designed and owing to the simplicity of construction of its parts; will materially reduce the cost of manufacturing such articles, and also overcome any tendency of the follower to stick or bind Within the tray or drawer.

What is claimed is A card index tray or drawer having inward projecting keepers secured to its upper edges, in combination with a' two-part follower, and resilient means arranged between the membersof the follower to cause one of 20 them to engage the under faces of the keepers.-

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK W. GERHARD. Witnesses:

J. A. PRITZKAU, WM. W. BLU-ME. 

